GoPro Hero 12 Black review: Still the best action camera

Close your eyes and imagine an action camera. Something you can record athletic triumphs, adrenaline-fuelled activities, and slow time-lapses on. You imagined a GoPro, didn’t you?

GoPros are synonymous with action cameras because they’re so good, durable and versatile.

The list of new features I want from a GoPro at this point is short: basically just more battery life and the ability to record longer. The GoPro Hero 12 delivers on both of these dreams (a little bit), and it has increased Bluetooth compatibility.

GoPro Hero 12 Black review

• First impressions
• Specifications
• Performance
• Who is it for?

First impressions

GoPros are always nice and easy to set up. Make sure you have a microSD card, and that when you set it up you are somewhere with both your phone and Wi-Fi. Do not wait until you’re about to head out to set it up, because you have to tie it in with the GoPro app nonsense before it’s usable. It’s not just plug-and-play.

See Also

8.6

18/08/2023

DJI Osmo Action 4 review: ultimate adventure vlogging camera

It is simple to do, but just you need to make sure you have internet access to do it. You’ll have to download the Quik app on your phone, and you’ll probably end up getting a paid Quik subscription to use with your GoPro. Personally, I hate needing to pay for subscriptions to use expensive technology you’ve already bought, but that’s a rant for another day.

Broad accessory support is one of the Hero 12’s highlights.

Other than that, my first impression is that the GoPro Hero 12 is a lot like every other GoPro you’ve ever used in that it’s the same size and shape and still compatible with all your old accessories (this is excellent). It’s exactly as good as you would expect a GoPro to be.

GoPro Hero 12 Black specifications

Dimensions	71.8 w x 50.8 h x 33.6 d (mm)
Weight	154g (camera w/mounting fingers + battery) 121g (without battery)
Battery	Removable 1720mah enduro battery
Waterproof rating	10m (33ft) without protective housing 60m (196ft) with protective housing
System processor	Gp2
Video resolution and frame rates	5.3k (8:7) 30/25/24 fps 5.3k (16:9) 60/50/30/25/24 fps 4k (8:7) 60/50/30/25/24 fps 4k (9:16) 60/50/30/25 4k (16:9) 120/100/60/50/30/25/24 fps 2.7k (4:3) 120/100/60/50 fps 2.7k (16:9) 240/200 fps 1080 (9:16) 60/50/30/25 1080p (16:9) 240/200/120/100/60/50/30/25/24 fps
Max photo resolution	27.13mp (5568×4872)
Audio features	3 mics 3.5mm audio mic input with media mod for hero12 black or pro 3.5 mic adapter (sold separately) Raw audio capture (.wav format) Wireless audio
Price (RRP)	$649
Warranty	One year
Official website	GoPro Australia

As you can see from the above, on paper, the GoPro Hero 12 is remarkably similar to the Hero 11. The biggest difference is that it has “up to” twice as much battery life, thanks to some software changes. There’s also a new Lens Mod 2.0 accessory and the ability to connect Bluetooth microphones and headphones for better audio on the go.

Performance

The GoPro Hero 12 Black performs like a GoPro, which is to say extremely well.

Design

The design of the GoPro Hero range is unchanging, and that’s great. It means that even if you haven’t updated in 5-10 years, all your stands and accessories will still work, and you’ll be able to find your way around. It’s what’s on the inside that counts, and while that’s basically the same as last year, you’re probably not upgrading from last year’s model but from an older one with significantly slower guts.

Durability

I haven’t taken the GoPro Hero 12 Black on many adventures where its durability would be called into question, aside from being swooped by a magpie. Well, at one point I very gently (a little bit) ran it over with a mountain bike, but it was fine. I also dropped it from two metres up onto concrete at one point by accident, and it was fine.

However, I have done extensive durability testing on GoPros in the past, and it passed with flying colours. Like, I ran it over with a car, threw axes at it, froze it, threw it off a roof, played baseball with it. Surprisingly resilient.

Battery Life

Due to some thermal wizardry (and possibly removing the GPS functionality), the GoPro Hero 12 Black has “double the runtime” of the Hero 11. But it’s important to remember that “doubling the runtime” doesn’t mean doubling the record time. GoPro basically made the camera run a bit cooler, so the battery runs a bit longer. This will be noticeable if you’re shooting 4K/120, but if you just shoot HD it won’t make a meaningful difference. I got an extra 16 minutes on 4K/120 (36 mins on Hero 12 vs Hero 11’s 20 mins), which is a big difference, but still not as much of an improvement as I was hoping for.

8:7 Everywhere

The most important thing for TikTokkers is going to be that the 8:7 full sensor recording is now available on every video mode. This means it’s much easier for TikTokkers to record in 9:16 and output vertical video without fiddling around with the aspect ratio in the app as part of the edit.

Software upgrades

The most noticeable change, from my perspective, is the updated editing software in the Quik app. I still hate that the Quik app requires a paid subscription, but it’s fun to play with.

One interesting new feature is that the app will come up with a highlights video for you, automatically editing your longer footage into sizzle reels. I’ve tried this on a few of my videos and got hilarious results. I think the feature is designed for people who do snowboarding jumps or other high-adrenaline activities.

Its on-device menu isn’t great, but the camera is, which is the most important part.

I use my GoPro as a kind of dashcam for my bike and have some nice, scenic videos of taking the GoPro down the coast. However, the Quik software edited it into a dramatic montage of every time I stopped at the lights for pedestrians to cross in front of me. I also edited an older video I had of me repeatedly throwing the GoPro off the roof, and it just returned little snippets of me talking to the camera, and then someone else picking up the camera, with none of the juicy stuff in between.

Professional editors need not worry about AI taking their jobs any time soon. But it’s a fun feature to play around with, and it’s totally optional and easy to avoid if you don’t like the results.

Who is the GoPro Hero 12 Black for?

Sale

HERO12 Black

• Incredible image quality, even better HyperSmooth video stabilization and a huge boost in battery life come together in the latest and greatest GoPro—HERO12 Black
• Emmy Award-winning HyperSmooth 6.0 video stabilization.
• 5 hours of 4K recording time per charge.
• thanks to its improved power management, it delivers 2x longer continuous recording at 5.3K60 (70 minutes).

$ 597.00

Buy on Amazon

Really, it’s for anyone who thinks they would like a good action camera. GoPros are still the best available, even if the menu on the camera makes you want to throw rocks. No, it’s not a meaningful upgrade over the 11 for most people, so if you can find an 11 on sale, go for that. But if you’re upgrading from an older model, want a second GoPro, are about to get your first action camera, or really any other reason to get a GoPro, the GoPro Hero 12 Black is an excellent choice. I wholeheartedly recommend it without reservation.

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Ecovacs Deebot X2 Omni review: simply the best robot vacuum

8.8

Buy on Amazon

Buy on Ecovacs

Just how much different is a premium robot vacuum cleaner from a budget device? There are already plenty of robot helpers out there, performing many of the maintenance tasks you’d rather not spend time and energy on. Aimed at people with coin to spare, the Ecovacs Deebot X2 Omni is an aspirational robot vacuum cleaner that outclasses the many that have come before.

At $2,499, it sits at the very top of Ecovacs’ home cleaning appliances. That’s a lot of money to spend on any vacuum regardless of features. However, the X2 contains various significant upgrades that fully justify its premium status. Aside from being a good vacuum, it does a great job of mopping. It’s also far smarter than any robot vacuum I’ve tested before thanks to a combination of hardware and software tweaks.

One thing that’s important to recognise with any robot vacuum cleaner is that it is ultimately a maintenance device. Despite this robot’s improved form factor, it can’t magically fit everywhere, so you’ll still need to get the duster out on occasion. With this in mind, robot vacuums cater nicely to time-poor folks or those who struggle to regularly clean due to health conditions. Viewed through this lens, the Ecovacs Deebot X2 Omni is the best home cleaning assistant currently available.

Ecovacs Deebot X2 Omni review

• First impressions
• Specifications
• Performance
• Who is it for?

First impressions

Having tested a number of robot vacuums in recent times, it took me a while to adjust to the new square design. Other than the Dyson 360 Vis Nav from earlier this year, this is a product category dominated by circular designs. There’s a functional reason for the square change, but it also looks classy with its sleek grey finish.

It pairs nicely with the upgraded Omni all-in-one docking station. Although the station comes smaller than the previous generation, it still takes up a decent footprint which you need to keep in mind when setting up in your home.

By far the easiest robot vacuum I’ve set up so far, the Deebot X2 Omni only has a single brush that you need to clip to get started. Its roller brush and mop pads come already installed, making it literally a plug-and-play affair. In fact, the only other thing you need to do during Setup is fill up the Omni station’s water tank before proceeding to the app.

Other than the obvious hardware differences between Ecovacs models, you’d be surprised by how the software experience differs. All Ecovacs robots use the smartphone app to set up and use each device. However, as is evident with this model, you also benefit from a better user interface in addition to 3D mapping to assist with obstacle avoidance.

Out of all the robot cleaning devices I’ve tested, this was ready to go faster than any other. Some models have taken a little while to generate a map of my house, but not this one. On its initial recon run, the X2 completed a map in just a matter of minutes. In terms of offering a frictionless experience out of the box, the Deebot X2 Omni aces the test, letting you get to the most important part: reliably cleaning your home.

Deebot X2 Omni specifications

Vacuum	Up to 8,000Pa suction power 20 cm roller brush
Mop	Upgraded Omni all-in-one station Hot water mop washing Hot air drying Auto-empty Auto water refill Self-cleaning
Docking station	Upgraded Omni all-in-one station Hot water mop washing Hot air drying Auto-empty Auto water refill Self cleaning
Additional features	App control AIVI 3D 2.0 sensor and dual-laser LiDAR 3D mapping 2.0 Yiko 2.0 voice control
Battery	6,400mAh
Price (RRP)	$2,499
Warranty	Two years
Official website	Ecovacs Australia

Performance

Smart features and navigation

Ecovacs has worked wonders with the built-in navigation features of this Deebot. It easily navigates around furniture, random objects, and people standing in the way. I noticed that it rarely collides with walls or furniture, and even in the event it did, it would be so gentle as to not cause any damage whatsoever. Most impressively, the robot vacuum even managed to wave its way through our dining chairs without manual intervention. To briefly paint a picture, the gap between these chairs’ legs is tight, previously causing trouble for other robot vacuums. As innocuous as navigating between chair legs seems, it shows the improvement in a real-life scenario.

Although standard features by this point, you can also customise your robot’s cleaning behaviours easily via the app. Creating schedules and virtual barriers takes minimal time, and it’s easy to choose specific rooms to clean – and how you want them cleaned. For example, I assigned the robot to use more water in the kitchen area where there are likely to be more spills, but then less water in areas with higher foot traffic.

Ecovacs made a lot of noise about the auto mop-lifting feature in its recent models. The idea is that the Deebot X2 Omni lifts its mop when detecting carpets or rugs. We have a mat in our main living area, surrounded by tiling and, without fail, the Deebot lifted its damp mopping pads, avoiding moisture on the fabric surface. As effortlessly as it kept the mop pads away, it also detected when it was moving from tiles to carpet, adjusting the suction power accordingly.

I’m not one to use voice assistance with technology, but was pleased to say that Yiko, the brand’s built-in smart assistant, now has an Aussie accent. I think it’s also better at detecting voice commands, too. Previous models struggled to pick up my regional Australian accent and while Yiko isn’t on the same level as Siri at interpreting requests, it’s definitely improved.

Vacuuming

One of the most important factors of any robot vacuum is, of course, its ability to vacuum. On this front, the X2 capably sucks up any dust, fluff, and other small bits of debris on the floor. Half of our house is tiled while the other half is carpeted and the Deebot didn’t appear to struggle with either surface. We also have a cat who has a habit of leaving her fur all over the place, which is something that the robot vacuum effortlessly cleaned up.

A major change with this model, as mentioned earlier, is its revised square shape with a single side brush. This helps it get into more corners, leaving less of a gap between the device and the wall while cleaning. From my experience, it definitely helped cover more territory and leave fewer missed spots behind. Additionally, the removal of the periscope-like sensor on top of the device – shifting it to within the unit – helps the Deebot X2 Omni fit under more furniture. There are still plenty of objects it can’t fit underneath, like my TV cabinet and couches that sit low to the ground. Regardless, it does squeeze into more nooks and crannies than other models.

I could go on about the increased suction power year-on-year, but that’s not where the biggest gains lie with the new premium model. Its smarter navigation is the big winner here. Combined with its faster and more accurate mapping features, the Deebot X2 Omni simply covers its designated cleaning areas better.

Although not a new feature, it’s always helpful to have an auto-empty station so that you don’t have to manually clean or empty the device each time.

Mopping

Many companies claim that their robot vacuums can mop. Well, if spreading a little bit of water around without much scrubbing power fits your definition, then, yes, plenty of devices do indeed mop. Bucking an industry-wide trend of devices with good vacuums and so-so mops, the Deebot X2 Omni actually delivers on its all-in-one promise.

Stubborn kitchen floor moisture stains have left past robot vacuums with their metaphorical tails between their wheels. Meanwhile, the latest Deebot dispatched such stains with seemingly little effort. Because the mop pads apply enough downward force and rotate, there’s more chance of the robot scrubbing out messes. It’s still recommended to clean major spills as they occur – lest they turn into harder work later on – but it’s great to see a robot vacuum take care of annoying little marks on your hard flooring.

There’s also much less to take care of from a maintenance perspective. The Omni station fills the robot with clean water and empties its reservoir after cleaning to avoid spreading dirty water and undoing its work. It also uses hot air to dry the mop pads to keep them clean and reduce bacteria accumulation. You’ll need to change the pads semi-regularly but it’s far less laborious than cleaning a mop manually every time.

Who is the Deebot X2 Omni for?

While it doesn’t come cheap, the Ecovacs Deebot X2 Omni is a significant step forward for robot vacuums. Its combination of smarts, vacuuming power and a mop that actually mops means it legitimately lives up to its premium status.

At its relatively high asking price, it is very much an aspirational purchase for households who will get the maximum benefit. Suited particularly to larger homes with a mix of different floor types, this robot removes much of the hassle associated with cleaning.

ECOVACS X2 Omni Robot Vacuum Cleaner (Auto Clean+Auto Empty) Deep Sweeping and Mopping, 8000PA Strongest Suction, 15mm Auto-Lift Mopping, 55°Hot Water Mop Washing and 6400mAh Battery

• 【Brand-New Square Shape Design Delivers The Best Cleaning Experience Ever】DEEBOT X2 OMNI’s brand new square and compact design brings edge-to-edge cleanliness tailored to your everyday needs.
• 【Experience Powerful Cleaning with Industry-leading Technology 】Elevate your cleaning with the powerful OZMO Turbo 2.0 Rotating Mopping system, 8000Pa suction power and 15mm intelligent mop lifting function. The DEEBOT X2 OMNI offers you the best deep cleaning experience you’ll need when cleaning your home.
• 【The Ultimate True Hands-free Experience】With its fully-automated all-in-one OMNI station, the robotic cleaner can operate autonomously with high performance and efficiency. The unique hot water mopping feature in the station ensures your mopping pad are always clean.

$ 2,499.00

Buy on Amazon

If your budget doesn’t stretch this far, there are still plenty of decent models at various price points. Keep an eye out for the Aldi-stocked $399 Deebot Neo if vacuuming is all you need, while the T20 Omni forgoes some navigation smarts for less than $1,800. None are quite as comprehensive as the X2 but are still worthwhile for less complex needs.

As long as you’re realistic and recognise that no device does absolutely everything, robot vacuums are a great household companion. As it stands, the all-around impressive Ecovacs Deebot X2 Omni is the best that money can buy.

GadgetGuy occasionally uses affiliate links and may receive a small commission from purchased products.

Ecovacs Deebot X2 Omni

The Ecovacs Deebot X2 Omni is the best all-in-one robot vacuum money can buy, wielding premium performance at a premium price.

Features

9

Value for money

8

Performance

9

Ease of use

9

Design

9

Positives

Excellent vacuum and mop performance

Simple and fast setup process

Best navigation of any robot vacuum I've used

Negatives

Pricey compared to other models

Yiko voice assistant still struggles with Aussie accents

8.8

Buy on Amazon

Buy on Ecovacs

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Use your iPhone to accept contactless payments, not just pay for things

If you want to sell something in person and collect payment with your iPhone, it’s now much easier to do. Normally, sellers would need to register as a merchant with one of the big banks and have to pay for an EFTPOS terminal. Thanks to the new “Tap-to-Pay on iPhone” feature now available in Square and Zeller’ e-commerce apps, sellers of all sizes can accept payments with no additional hardware such as a card reader, EFTPOS machine, cash register or point-of-sale system. While launched in the US late last year, Australia is the only other market where Square and Zeller’s contactless payment feature is available.

And just like regular transactions using a payment terminal, your iPhone will accept major credit and debit cards, as well as phone-based payments using Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay. It will also work with compatible devices such as smartwatches and tablets.

According to Square, the Tap-to-Pay on iPhone feature is well suited to both new and established sellers and offers a number of benefits:

• Mobile professionals like tradies and caterers have the ability to securely accept contactless payments onsite at their project location
• Retailers gain new efficiency through line busting and the convenience of helping shoppers complete their purchase wherever they are in store
• Hairstylists and beauty professionals benefit from the speed and ease of enabling customers to pay for their services right from their chair

Apple doesn’t directly charge buyers or sellers to use the feature, however, both Square and Zeller will extract a fee. Sellers can pass this on to the customer, should they want to.

Privacy and security

Tap-to-Pay on iPhone uses the same NFC (Near Field Communication) technology as other popular contactless payment methods, and shares the security and privacy features of Apple Pay. Essentially, when a payment is processed, Apple doesn’t store card numbers on the device or its servers. Buyers can use FaceID or a fingerprint to authorize their payment, and a pin code can also be requested for added security.

Apple Pay has been used and trusted by major Australian banks and financial institutions for over 5 years, with no major security issues. Read more on Apple Pay security and privacy protection.

Setting up with Square and Zeller

With Square, account holders simply open the Square POS, Square for Retail, or Square Appointments app, make a sale, enter the amount to be charged, and present their iPhone to the buyer for a contactless transaction.

Square sellers will be charged a processing fee of 1.9% per transaction.

Jeremy Sproull, one of the first businesses in Australia to use Square’s Tap-to-Pay on iPhone feature in his nursery, Jez’s Seedlings, said: “Sellers can get set up in minutes and begin making sales in seconds.”

The process is similar with Zeller, which is an Australian Fintech that helps businesses through a range of financial services. All that’s needed is the Zeller app, then a user enables the Tap-to-Pay on iPhone feature, enter an amount for the transaction, and the customer holds their card or phone on top of the seller’s iPhone for the payment to complete. A receipt can then be forwarded to the customer via SMS or email. 

Zeller charges sellers a 1.4% fee for each transaction.

Both Square and Zeller’s Tap-to-Pay on iPhone services are available to Australian businesses through updating to the latest build of their apps. Contactless payments will work with iPhone XS and later devices that are running the latest version of iOS.

Tyro and Westpac were the initial Australian launch partners to offer the Tap-to-Pay on iPhone feature back in May 2023, and have since been joined by ANZ, Stripe, and Adyen.

More iPhone news and reviews on GadgetGuy

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Boeing exits from Low Earth Orbit satellite internet race

In an unexpected move that reverberates through the satellite communications sector, Boeing has signaled a strategic retreat from the competitive arena of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite internet. With its decision to relinquish its LEO satellite constellation license — a direct challenger to SpaceX’s and OneWeb’s burgeoning LEO networks — Boeing alters the dynamics of the global quest for connectivity.

Boeing, a behemoth in aerospace, had grand designs to deploy a broadband internet constellation that now stand abandoned. This Monday, the company officially withdrew its application and incurred a $2.2 million penalty paid to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Granted in November 2021, the permit was revoked on October 12 after Boeing’s strategic pivot.

“Boeing remains dedicated to a responsible approach to space and spectrum usage,” stated Michelle Parker, Boeing’s Vice President of Space Mission Systems. Despite the shift, Parker remains positive about the V-band spectrum’s potential to fulfill the escalating demand for satellite internet, signaling that Boeing may yet influence the sector, albeit on different fronts.

SpaceX’s CEO, Elon Musk, known for his incisive online commentary, characterized the competitive environment as challenging following Boeing’s exit. Starlink, SpaceX’s LEO constellation, is an industry titan with over 5,000 satellites in orbit, benefiting from integrated launch capabilities — a luxury Boeing would lack.

Competing with SpaceX is tough

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 1, 2023

Previously, Boeing’s intentions appeared robust, with the launch of their Varuna prototype in September 2022 hinting at a serious commitment to establishing a presence in space-based internet delivery. However, their withdrawal suggests a recalibration of their corporate focus away from deploying a constellation in the immediate future.

OneWeb, supplied in Australia, New Zealand and PNG by Sat.One, is unlike Starlink’s direct-to-consumer ethos and targets business-to-business collaborations, aligning more closely with Boeing’s erstwhile strategy. While both companies are furnishing global connectivity, OneWeb’s approach has been to forge partnerships with telecommunications companies to provide backhaul services, a contrast to Starlink’s direct sales to end-users in remote locations. This bifurcation in business models reflects broader industry diversity in tackling the challenge of global internet access. OneWeb currently has over 530 satellites orbiting the earth at about 1,200km up.

Sat.One delivers OneWeb LEO services to its partners in the ANZ and PNG regions.

The FCC’s strict deployment timeline—mandating that Boeing have half its constellation active by November 2027—may have contributed to its strategic withdrawal. Although unconfirmed, industry speculation suggests regulatory pressure and the risk of ‘spectrum squatting’ accusations might have been factors.

Boeing’s step back reshuffles the satellite internet landscape, but the field remains vibrant with players like Amazon’s Project Kuiper, which has recently celebrated the launch of two prototypes. OneWeb has also established a significant presence, forging a distinct path that both parallels and diverges from Starlink’s.

As this space race continues, the impact on global connectivity remains a central theme. With different models and players vying for a share of the sky, the dream of a fully connected Earth hovers closer to reality. As new constellations arise and old ones redefine their trajectories, the skies will remain a dynamic frontier of technological innovation and competition.

More internet and communications news on GadgetGuy

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After nearly a year with the MacBook Pro M2 Max, I’m in love

9

Not long after its release earlier this year, I’ve used a MacBook Pro M2 Max as my daily laptop. I’ve held off on publishing a review mainly because it’s the first meaningful amount of time I’ve spent with a Mac device after a lifetime of Windows devices. There’s not much point in attempting to be authoritative without intimately understanding how the device works.

With the M3 models already upon us, it’s finally time to share my experience with this absolute beast of a computer. My goodness, I love this laptop. I’m now a Mac convert.

It goes without saying that the daily experience of using a Mac differs in myriad ways from a Windows PC. I’ve used iPhones since the 4S in 2011, so I’m not completely clueless about Apple’s ecosystem. Regardless, there are so many small and relatively innocuous ways this MacBook has improved my workflow.

Powerful, quiet, and long-lasting, the MacBook Pro M2 Max is a marvel of technology. Apple’s transition towards its in-house silicon has worked wonders, with performance levels I’ve never before witnessed in a laptop running a system on a chip (SoC).

Particularly for power users already equipped with an iPhone or iPad, the MacBook Pro M2 Max is the ultimate computing companion. Even if most people don’t actually need it.

MacBook Pro M2 Max review

• First impressions
• Specifications
• Performance
• Who is it for?

First impressions

I tested the 14-inch model, which is more my kind of size, although there is a 16-inch version for those who crave more screen real estate. Housed within my unit was a top-of-the-line configuration worth around $7,000, which is a lot to spend on any computer. We’re talking a 38-core GPU, 98 GB of RAM and so on – completely surplus to my requirements. Bear in mind that the M2 Max model is aimed at high-end creative professionals who need massive rendering power in a portable machine. This ain’t the device you send little Timmy to school with, that’s for sure.

Apple’s reputation for engineering premium, quality devices continues here. It’s a sleek and understated laptop that belies the sheer grunt within. At 1.63kg, it’s not super lightweight by any means, so you’ll definitely notice it in your backpack.

Reasonably portable, the 14-inch MacBook Pro still carries some heft.

A 14-inch MacBook Pro and a small cat for scale.

Core to the Apple experience is its highly curated ecosystem that sees seamless interplay between hardware and software. Other platforms are catching up, as Android and Windows devices offer more cross-hardware integration, but I love how easy Apple makes it. AirDrop makes it so easy to transfer files between my iPhone and the MacBook, which I do frequently for work. There’s no additional software required, no workarounds involved – it just does it. Quickly.

Perhaps most of this review could be summed up as ‘Man uses Mac device for first time, discovers standard features’. And that would be pretty accurate.

Beyond Apple’s carefully crafted platform, the MacBook Pro M2 Max is fast. Rarely did it leave me waiting to open apps, and export photo and video edits, nor did it groan under the load of many simultaneously open browser tabs. When running on battery, I didn’t even notice a difference. I could easily get through a day without charging, too. I’d only need to plug into an outlet late the next day.

Have I mentioned how much I like this laptop?

MacBook Pro M2 Max specifications

Processor	Apple M2 Max 12-core CPU Up to 38-core GPU 16-core Neural Engine
Memory	Up to 96 GB
Storage	Up to 8 TB SSD
Display	14-inch Liquid Retina XDR (3024 × 1964)
Connectivity	3x Thunderbolt 4 ports 1x HDMI SDXC card slot Headphone jack MagSafe 3 port Wi-Fi 6E Bluetooth 5.3
Battery	Up to 18 hours 96W USB-C Power Adapter
Price (RRP)	From $4,999
Warranty	One year
Official website	Apple Australia

Performance

General use

Expanding on my first impressions earlier, this is a dream machine to use. From productivity to creative apps like Premiere Pro and Affinity Photo, it handled everything without dropping a beat.

I’m notoriously fussy when it comes to laptop keyboards, preferring my Ducky One mechanical keyboard over any low-profile inputs. Pleasingly, the MacBook Pro’s keys feel nice to type on, with a decent level of tactility and responsiveness rarely found in laptops.

Kudos to whoever engineered the built-in speakers, too. Although I prefer wearing headphones where possible, playing video and music through the MacBook Pro’s speakers is a rich experience. Producing a full, expansive sound, there was real depth to the audio and a surprising amount of bass. I’m used to laptop speakers sounding flat and tinny, so colour me impressed.

Apple”s engineers know what they’re doing: the speakers are great, and the keyboard is comfortable to type on.

One question my experience left me with: why doesn’t Windows make PDF editing as stress-free as Macs do? Editing, splitting and signing PDFs with the MacBook Pro was the easiest it’s ever been in my computer-using life. I feel duped for having needed separate, clunky-to-use programs up to this point.

My only usability complaint is that Stage Manager often got in the way more than it helped. Introduced with macOS Ventura, Stage Manager is Apple’s attempt at making multitasking easier. Nestled on the left-hand side are other apps you have open, where you can quickly swap between which one takes centre stage, as it were.

In practice, the Stage Manager’s column of background apps routinely popped up when I didn’t want it to. I regularly edit photos and found that whenever I moved the cursor to the left side of the screen to choose a tool in the editor, I’d accidentally click on another app, interrupting my workflow. After a while of trying to get used to it, I eventually turned Stage Manager off, vastly preferring good ol’ Command-Tab to cycle between apps.

Gaming

I’m bullish about the future of gaming on Macs. After years of being the butt of jokes from PC gamers, there are a couple of big reasons why that’ll change over time. One is hardware: Apple chips like the M2 Max found in the MacBook Pro generate a lot of graphical power without the need for a discrete GPU. Software and APIs that make it easier for developers is another major reason.

Not only are more prominent games like Death Stranding coming to Mac devices but Apple’s also streamlining the process of porting games over. It’ll take a while for the breadth of titles found on PC to accumulate, but the future looks promising.

Blockbuster survival horror game Resident Evil Village runs beautifully on the MacBook Pro M2 Max. Graphical fidelity and smooth performance on a major release like this teases the future of Apple’s gaming prowess. The same goes for the extensive Apple Arcade library, although many of these games are designed with mobile devices in mind. Most of the time, the MacBook Pro runs coolly and almost silently, although its fans occasionally noticeably kicked in during some games as the laptop heated up.

Arguably the most exciting part of Apple’s renewed gaming focus is the potential for more simultaneous releases with PC. Mac gamers had to wait a month after the PC release of Baldur’s Gate III, one of this year’s most popular games, for a native version.

While we’re not yet at a utopian future of gaming on any platform without delay, it’s fast approaching.

Benchmarks

Synthetic benchmarks provided by specialist software only tell part of the story but help quantify differences between devices. Overall, the MacBook Pro M2 Max produced good benchmark scores across a range of categories.

CPU

Device	CPU (Single-core)	CPU (Multi-core)
Lenovo Legion Pro 7i (Gen 8)	2870	17,089
MacBook Pro M2 Max	2701	14,916
Mac Mini M2 Pro (12-core)	2418	14,268
Asus Zenbook Pro 16X OLED	2269	11,867
Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3	1118	3635

Geekbench 6

One of the more powerful laptops we’ve tested, the M2 Max chip included in the MacBook performed well in CPU testing. Slightly ahead in raw numbers generated using Geekbench 6, the similarly-priced Lenovo Legion Pro 7i struggled with battery life. That’s one advantage Apple silicon has over most other laptops: high power with battery efficiency.

Device	CPU (Single-core)	CPU (Multi-core)
MacBook Pro M2 Max	122	1031

Cinebench 2024

A new version of Cinebench launched earlier this year, so it’ll take some time to compare against other devices as we accumulate results over time. According to the built-in rankings, the MacBook Pro M2 Max sits above an AMD Ryzen 7 5800X CPU but doesn’t quite reach the raw power of Apple’s desktop M1 Ultra chip.

GPU

Device	OpenCL	Metal
Lenovo Legion Pro 7i (Gen 8)	158,787	N/A
Asus Zenbook Pro 16X OLED	82,480	N/A
MacBook Pro M2 Max	72,833	85,485
Mac Mini M2 Pro (12-core)	N/A	53,334

Geekbench 6

As expected, laptops with discrete graphics cards (the Legion Pro 7i used an RTX 4070) provided higher GPU benchmark results than the M2 Max. Of course, the sacrifice here is battery life. Frankly, it’s impressive that an SoC generates results comparable to discrete laptop GPUs.

Device	GPU
MacBook Pro M2 Max	6026

Cinebench 2024

Cinebench 2024 reintroduces GPU testing, providing another point of comparison between machines. Like the software’s CPU benchmarking, it can’t be compared to Cinebench R23, the previous iteration. This means we don’t have much to compare results with yet but there are some included in the app. According to these results, the M2 Max sits just above the M1 Ultra, and below an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 Super GPU configuration.

Disk speed

Using the Blackmagic Disk Speed test, the 4 TB SSD included in my MacBook Pro M2 Max review unit provides write speeds of up to 7,000 MB/s and read speeds of up to 5,800 MB/s. That’s pretty fast, befitting of the laptop’s status as a professional-grade workstation. Keep in mind that smaller storage configurations run substantially slower, which is disappointing considering the laptop’s high starting price.

Who is the MacBook Pro M2 Max for?

It’s by far the best and most capable laptop I’ve ever used. Powerful and fast, the MacBook Pro M2 Max effortlessly handles productivity and media editing alike. You’d certainly expect it of a $5,000 laptop, although you might find a deal as retailers clear stock ready for the M3 models.

For most people, a MacBook Air would completely suffice. As much as I enjoyed using the Pro, the raw power of the M2 Max chip was surplus to my needs. For high-end media editors and 3D renderers, however, this laptop’s rare balance of power and efficiency is hard to ignore. Astoundingly good at many different things, the MacBook Pro is a great machine for power users.

Apple MacBook Pro M2 Max

Features

9

Value for money

8

Performance

9.5

Ease of use

9.5

Design

9

Positives

An impressive blend of raw power and battery efficiency

Brilliantly seamless interplay between Apple devices

Excellent build quality

Negatives

Need to pay more for faster storage on an already expensive laptop

Stage Manager is awkward to use

9

The post After nearly a year with the MacBook Pro M2 Max, I’m in love appeared first on GadgetGuy.

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Compare NBN plans now for the best price, ACCC urges

If you’re considering changing your NBN provider, now’s the time to do it. As wholesale price changes come into effect, retail service providers (RSPs) will pass the costs onto you, the consumer. While this happens, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) strongly recommends you shop around and compare NBN plans for the best deal.

Aussie Broadband was one of the first providers to confirm retail price changes, increasing the cost of lower-speed plans like the popular 50/20 tier while making faster plans cheaper. Its 12/1 tier was one of the cheapest NBN plans but will rise to $65 by the end of November.

Amidst these changes, the ACCC has contacted all NBN RSPs to keep them accountable and honest with customers. The consumer watchdog also urged people to find the best deal as retailers compete with one another.

“It has never been more important for consumers to compare prices between retailers to make sure they are getting a deal that represents good value for them,” ACCC Commissioner Anna Brakey said. “There are significant price differences between retailers so it is worth seeing what other deals are available.”

Compare NBN plans that suit your needs

According to Aussie Broadband, the 50/20 plan accounts for roughly 45 per cent of the market, meaning a lot of people will feel the impact of rising costs. At this tier, many plans hover around $79 per month, although there are various deals offering cheaper prices, as seen below.

Depending on your needs, you could even get away with a slower plan. 25 Mbps is suitable for HD streaming and small households, while you’d mainly need faster speeds for 4K streams and downloading large files quickly. The ACCC’s message is clear to retailers recommending faster speeds than what customers need.

“NBN retailers should not be pushing households towards more expensive offers with speed inclusions that are higher than they need,” Brakey said. “If we were to see this, it would raise concerns.”

“Given cost of living pressures impacting many householders, we expect retailers to assist customers to select NBN plans that best suit their needs so that they avoid paying more than necessary.”

Quarterly performance reports from the ACCC also indicate how well retailers deliver on advertised speeds. It’s worth checking to ensure how likely you’ll get the speeds you pay for, after all. Before prices start changing, check out where you can get the cheapest NBN plan, as you might be able to lock in a good deal.

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